Tea, Top Trumps and tunes listened to by millions: Welsh Language Music Day buzz builds before big day

Friday February 8th 2019 – a date for the diaries of music fans from Wales and beyond, for the fourth annual Welsh Language Music Day – Dydd Miwsig Cymru.

Last year, Hollywood actor Rhys Ifans and Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens urged fans of all genres to discover the incredible music being made in the Welsh language, while thousands of people of all ages experienced live Welsh music at events across the country and as far afield as Budapest and Brooklyn.

Since then, for the first time a song made in the Welsh language has been listened to over one million on steaming service Spotify; ‘Gwenwyn’ by Alffa- a rock duo consisting of Dion Jones and Sion Land from Gwynedd- on the Recordiau Côsh Records label.

Current plans for the day include:

Huw is calling on individuals and organisations across Wales and the world to take part by staging their own gig, listening party or by playing Welsh language music in their business with advice and support available to make it happen.

Specially curated playlists covering genres from acoustic to electronic, alongside place-specific sounds for spaces including cafes, shops, offices and parties will be made available on Spotify, Apple Music and other streaming services. https://beta.gov.wales/welsh-language-music-day

New music:

Los Blancos – Cadw Fi Lan / Ti Di Newid

Hyll – single

I Fight Lions – Acoustic EP

Also…

To commemorate this golden year for Welsh language music, AM18, a compilation album celebrating the best new music from artists and record labels in Wales during 2018 has been released on Spotify, Apple Music and limited edition physical release. The 18 artists include Welsh Language Album of the Year winners and Welsh Music Prize nominated Mellt on the Jigcal label, HMS Morris on the Bubblewrap label and Breichiau Hir on the Libertino label. Artwork for the album has been created by Casey Raymond, who’s directed music videos for artists including Cate Le Bon, John Grant, Leftfield, DJ Shadow and The Human League.

Casey has also designed a special limited edition set of Welsh language music Top Trumps, pitting some of Wales’ most loved singers and artists against each other in categories including their influence, number of albums, experimentalness, pop star image and longevity.

Four million Welsh Brew tea bags with Dydd Miwsig Cymru branding will be sold in supermarkets including Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, The Co-op and Sainsburys across Wales. From 19 January 2019 for a period of 3 months, 50,000 packs of the iconic Welsh tea brand with bilingual Dydd Miwsig Cymru imagery and information will be available for purchasing.

One business to commit to playing Welsh language in its locations is S.A. Brain & Co, who run 104 pubs and hotels across Wales and the border. Brains’ Director of Operations, Jon Bridge said: “Brains has 104 pubs and hotels in Wales, with almost 3 million people crossing our thresholds annually, and as a Welsh company serving the people of Wales their daily drink it’s only fitting that we give them the real Welsh experience. Therefore, to celebrate Welsh Language Music Day 2019 we’ve committed that all our establishments will play only Welsh language music- that’s an extra 8000 people who’ll listen to Welsh language music on that day alone. But we’re not going to stop there, we’re also committing to playing Welsh language music songs within our scheduled playlists for the foreseeable future.”

Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens said: “You might be into guitars or grime, hip hop or harmonies, squeaky beats or big singalongs, but whatever gets you grooving, there’s Welsh language music you’ll listen to and fall in love with from the first note. Your next favourite song might just be made in the Welsh language and the fourth Dydd Miwsig Cymru- that’s Welsh Language Music Day in English – on Friday February 8th 2019 is the day to help you discover it.”

Dydd Miwsig Cymru celebrates all forms of Welsh Language music with free events aimed at gig goers, parents and children, young people, students and businesses are happening across the country. Details of shows across the country will be announced over the coming weeks. Follow @cymraeg and #DyddMiwsigCymru on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest details on plans for the day.